Grass Lake Township wants former Cedar Knoll Care Center building torn down -- and owner to pay for it

A mysterious, multinational biotech firm was supposed to employ about 175 in white-collar jobs there. All that remains of that dream today is a vacant, vandalized building along I-94 that is home to vagrants and rodents.

Jackson County officials want to take possession of the former Cedar Knoll Care Center property because of more than $200,000 in unpaid taxes. Grass Lake Township officials want it torn down.

Nick Dentamaro | Jackson Citizen PatriotThe former Cedar Knoll Care Center has been abandoned. Its owner has filed for bankruptcy.

Both have to wait.

The property’s owner narrowly escaped losing it this year to delinquent county taxes when he filed for bankruptcy.

Grass Lake Township, meanwhile, is working to declare the building in violation of its dangerous building ordinance. Officials want to be able to tear it down and have the cost — as much as $150,000 — billed to the owner, Canton resident Frank Alexander.

Four years ago, the 10-acre site held great promise. Kositech Scientific AG, which billed itself as a Singapore-based biotech firm, was supposed to move into the property. Officials said it would bring 175 jobs. The plan never materialized, nor did any proof the company existed after a two-month Citizen Patriot investigation in 2007.

The property now belongs to F&G Management, which bought it as an investment. Last year, Alexander, the company owner, was attempting to sell it for $899,000. His Realtor said there was no connection between Alexander and those involved in Kositech.

At a meeting of creditors in May as part of the federal bankruptcy proceeding, Alexander testified that a group of doctors wanted to go in on a joint venture to run a care center at the property.

Several weeks later, in an affidavit, Alexander stated he anticipated he could work out an agreement with an interested buyer within a week. There was no further reference to a sale taking place. He also testified that if the sale fell through, he would abandon the property.

Alexander declined to comment Monday and referred comment to his attorney, who did not return a message.

“For the owners to go in there and make it into something usable, it would be a real stretch,” township Supervisor Jim Stormont said.

Nick Dentamaro | Jackson Citizen PatriotThe former Cedar Knoll Care Center in Grass Lake Township has been vandalized and used as a shelter by vagrants. The township wants the building torn down.

The facility is beyond the state of repair and was the subject of a public hearing last month as local officials look into having it demolished, he said.

Garry Gitcho, the township’s ordinance enforcement officer, had sent Alexander a letter requesting he attend that hearing. Gitcho also sent along pictures of vandalism at the site and of animals that now infest it.

In his letter, Gitcho told Alexander “the buildings are not suitable for human habitation.”

Alexander did not attend the hearing, Stormont said.

Stormont said police are routinely called to the property, and he believes homeless people have sought shelter in it. Drugs and empty beer cans have also been found on the unsecured property, he said.

“There’s evidence of people staying inside overnight,” he said.

He said it appears someone also tried to set the building on fire at one point but failed.

Anything of value has been ripped out and removed, including the facility’s large furnace, Stormont said. And anything not of value has largely been destroyed.

Shattered pieces of toilets are strewn through the hallways, and a bathroom sink was found in the lawn. The garage door and another door were open Monday afternoon, and many windows have been knocked out. In an affidavit, Alexander said he has does not have insurance on the property.

While Stormont would like the building torn down, he said the township was advised by its attorney not to spend any more money because the local government might never get it back.

Public hearing

Grass Lake Township is trying to have the former Cedar Knoll Care Center declared a dangerous building. A second and final public hearing will take place at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at the township hall, 373 Lakeside Drive.